Meissner stepping down as chairman of Tuscaloosa City Board of Education

Dan Meissner has been chairman of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education for eight years.

File | The Tuscaloosa News

By Jamon SmithStaff Writer

Published: Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 12:32 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | After 12 years on the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education, board chairman Dan Meissner is stepping down.

“After much thought and prayerful consideration, I've decided that 12 years on the board is enough,” Meissner said. “I'm going to step aside at the end of October, which is the end of my term and be a supporter of the board in a different way — as a private citizen.”

Superintendent Paul McKendrick and Meissner's fellow board members said he will be missed.

“I've only worked with him for two years, but I was saddened when he mentioned that he wasn't going to run,” McKendrick said. “He's done some good work in helping us move forward, especially with the number of changes we've put in place and the successes we've experienced, whether it was the district making AYP or the dropout rates going down to 3 percent.”

School board member Harry Lee said Meissner's done a good job in the four years he's worked with him.

“He's the only leader I've had in the chairmanship job, and as far as I know, he's done everything proper,” Lee said. “He knew Robert's Rules of Order to a T and did everything required of him.”

Board member Marvin Lucas said Meissner served the community well.

“He was a pretty good board chair,” Lucas said. “He will be missed on the board.”

James Minyard, the only other person who's served on the school board as long as Meissner, said he wishes Meissner would have run for board chair again.

“I regret that it took up to this point for us to get some continuity on the board, and now with people leaving, it's like we're starting all over again,” Minyard said. “We were able to make the progress we've made because we worked together. I like to think that Dan had a part in all we've done in the past three years.

“I was around in the days when we had the 6-2 board vote with Earnestine Tucker and I voting one way and all the other board members voting the other way. This current board has almost always voted unanimously. You can count on two hands when we haven't. It's kind of a sad day. Meissner and I didn't see eye-to-eye on everything, but at least you could talk to him.”

Meissner served his first four-year term as the District 5 representative. He's been the board chair for the past eight years.

Meissner said he's proud of how far the system has come. He said the greatest accomplishments are the system's reduction in dropout rate, continuous improvement with student achievement, the new Tuscaloosa Technology Academy, the Workforce Development Academy in partnership with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, the Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools and the STEAM program at University Place elementary and middle schools.

“These programs provide increased diversity and opportunities for all parts of our community to come together and work towards a common goal,” Meissner said. “Right now, we're on the right track.

“The superintendent has a handle on the system and has the ship sailing in the right direction. We've seen continuous improvement in our achievement, which I am confident is going to continue when the scores for the past year are released.”

So far, Tuscaloosa City Council member Lee Garrison is the only person running for board chair.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | After 12 years on the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education, board chairman Dan Meissner is stepping down.</p><p>“After much thought and prayerful consideration, I've decided that 12 years on the board is enough,” Meissner said. “I'm going to step aside at the end of October, which is the end of my term and be a supporter of the board in a different way — as a private citizen.”</p><p>Superintendent Paul McKendrick and Meissner's fellow board members said he will be missed.</p><p>“I've only worked with him for two years, but I was saddened when he mentioned that he wasn't going to run,” McKendrick said. “He's done some good work in helping us move forward, especially with the number of changes we've put in place and the successes we've experienced, whether it was the district making AYP or the dropout rates going down to 3 percent.”</p><p>School board member Harry Lee said Meissner's done a good job in the four years he's worked with him.</p><p>“He's the only leader I've had in the chairmanship job, and as far as I know, he's done everything proper,” Lee said. “He knew Robert's Rules of Order to a T and did everything required of him.”</p><p>Board member Marvin Lucas said Meissner served the community well.</p><p>“He was a pretty good board chair,” Lucas said. “He will be missed on the board.”</p><p>James Minyard, the only other person who's served on the school board as long as Meissner, said he wishes Meissner would have run for board chair again.</p><p>“I regret that it took up to this point for us to get some continuity on the board, and now with people leaving, it's like we're starting all over again,” Minyard said. “We were able to make the progress we've made because we worked together. I like to think that Dan had a part in all we've done in the past three years.</p><p>“I was around in the days when we had the 6-2 board vote with Earnestine Tucker and I voting one way and all the other board members voting the other way. This current board has almost always voted unanimously. You can count on two hands when we haven't. It's kind of a sad day. Meissner and I didn't see eye-to-eye on everything, but at least you could talk to him.”</p><p>Meissner served his first four-year term as the District 5 representative. He's been the board chair for the past eight years. </p><p>Meissner said he's proud of how far the system has come. He said the greatest accomplishments are the system's reduction in dropout rate, continuous improvement with student achievement, the new Tuscaloosa Technology Academy, the Workforce Development Academy in partnership with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, the Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools and the STEAM program at University Place elementary and middle schools.</p><p>“These programs provide increased diversity and opportunities for all parts of our community to come together and work towards a common goal,” Meissner said. “Right now, we're on the right track.</p><p>“The superintendent has a handle on the system and has the ship sailing in the right direction. We've seen continuous improvement in our achievement, which I am confident is going to continue when the scores for the past year are released.”</p><p>So far, Tuscaloosa City Council member Lee Garrison is the only person running for board chair.</p><p>Reach Jamon Smith at jamon.smith@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.</p>